Secrets by Brenda Joyce Page B

timing could not have been better. Regina darted out of the courtyard.
    She hadn’t planned on taking a horse, but now she knew she would have to do so if she wanted to reach Templeton by nightfall. Traveling on foot was out of the question. There had been no traffic on the road when she had traveled it with Slade, but even if there had been, she would not even consider trying to get a ride to town with a stranger. The very idea was unacceptable.
    She wasn’t thrilled with the idea of taking a horse out by herself, either. That afternoon she had learned that she was a poor horsewoman. But she would manage; she had no choice.
    She saw no one as she crossed the grounds and approached the stables. Amazingly, a glance into the barn showed Regina that not even a groom was within. It could not be any better. She ran inside. It was dark within but she didn’t dare turn any lights on. She found the tack room and dragged a saddle and bridle from it. She was quite certain that she had never saddled a mount before.
    Regina chose the most placid-looking animal in the stable. Although the horse seemed oblivious of her, it took Regina a very long time to manage to lift the saddle and secure it into place, and even longer to bridle him. By now the bay gelding was looking at her, although he stood motionless. Regina praised him in high, nervous tones. Moments later she led the docile animal from the stall.
    The worst was over. Relief filled her. She dragged open the barn door and assured herself that no one was about. On the slope slightly above her, the sprawling adobe house appeared deserted and lifeless.
    Trying to remain calm, Regina led her mount to a bale of hay, stepped up on it by sweeping her skirts up and out of the way, and, ignoring the awkwardness and utter lack of decorum of riding astride, she slid onto the saddle. She grabbed the pommel as the bay jiggled.Ordering herself not to lose her head, she found the reins, shortening them to an appropriate length. Even though she was no expert horsewoman, it was obvious that she had received some training.
    They walked out of the barn. The wind blasted them. The horse leaped abruptly, almost throwing her. Regina clung to the reins and his neck at the same time. The horse danced a little. “Not now, please, boy,” she cried, glancing around desperately. No one was in sight. She nudged the bay with her heels, determined to get down the road and away from the house as quickly as possible.
    The bay responded instantly, breaking into a bone-jarring trot. Regina hung on for her life, her body bouncing uncontrollably.
    The wind wrenched her straw bonnet from her head. Regina, gripping the pommel and the reins, looked up, watching it fly away. Her skirts flew up about her thighs. Just her luck. A storm was coming.
    It occurred to her to turn back.
    She saw Slade’s dark face again. His intense midnight-blue eyes. Her resolve faltered. And then she did not have to worry about changing her mind. Her skirts frothed up again even more wildly than before. Her mount snorted and, as a gust of wind lifted his tail, he broke into a canter.
    Regina’s scream died in her throat. All she could concentrate upon was not falling off. The bay was galloping now, the bit between his teeth. She felt herself beginning to slide off the saddle. He ran faster. She tried to hang on, but it was hopeless. The scream she had wanted to emit burst forth as she lost her grip and tumbled to the dirt.
    She landed on her shoulder and her back with a force that left her breathless. When she could breathe, she took great reassuring gulps of air. She was regarding the low, oppressive sky. Very cautiously, she sat up, expecting her body not to work. But it did, albeit with some amount of internal protestation. She sighed in relief.
    The horse was gone.
    She glanced around, but there was no sight of him—or of the house. She wasn’t sure whether to be relieved or dismayed. Trembling, she got to